Gemma Gibbins-Smythe

by Brian Taylor.

Chapter 4.

As the sound of Miss Holroyd's car died away, Neil grabbed Tug by the arm, "Hang on a minute? This is daft. We don't know what we could be letting ourselves in for."
Tug stopped and turned, "We'll be careful. All we're going to do is see if the Merc's up there. Then we'll wait for Miss Holroyd to get back with the cops."
"Okay!" whispered Neil uncertainly, "‘But let's take it easy."
Tug pressed on and Neil followed – somewhat reluctantly. As they made their way through the trees and undergrowth, it became clear that they were in a strip of woodland that was barely 100 metres wide. A wire fence ran along each side of the wood and beyond that were fields. After about 10 minutes, Neil suggested they move to the left-hand edge of the wood to get the lie of the land. When they got to the fence, Tug, being the taller of the two, had a good look around. "Can't see anything." he whispered, "There's a hedge blocking the view. We won't see much until we get to it. Looks like there's a dip up ahead though."
When they were reached the hedge, there in front of them, nestling at the bottom of a field, was a farm with outbuildings. "That's a shame." said Tug, "Can't see whether the car's there or not. We'll have to get closer."
"I don't see how we can safely do that." Neil said, "We might be seen crossing the field. I think we should go back to the road."
"You scared?" asked Tug.
"Well, I'm certainly not deliriously happy."
"You go back if you want, but I'm going to take a look. See that gate in the dry-stone wall … just up the slope from that barn. We should get a good view of the farmhouse from there. The farm track must be just the other side it."
Without hesitating, Tug squeezed between 2 strands of the wire fence and set off along the side of the hedge with a stooping run. Neil paused. He didn't want to follow, nor did he want to be left on his own. Half-heartedly, he climbed through the fence and set off in pursuit of Tug.
It wasn't long before Tug was lying flat out on his stomach peering round the gatepost. "Can't see as much as I thought. I can see the upstairs and downstairs windows at this end of the house, but not the door. No car either. It could be by the front door."
"What are we going to do then?" Neil enquired.
Tug crawled back to where Neil sat with his back against the wall. "What time is it?"
"Just coming up to 2."
"Let's just stay here for now."

At 6 Chestnut Avenue, Mrs Gibbins-Smythe was standing at the sitting room window peering into the street and muttering to herself. "Where are you Gemma? So much for our girls trip to the shops. I'll give you what for when you get home."
Just then the phone rang. She picked it up, "Gemma! Is that you?" There was a pause, "Oh, sorry Mr Downs, I thought it might be Gemma. She's not home from school yet and we were supposed to be going out together at half-one … Oh! You don't think they've gone off somewhere together? ……… If I see Neil, I'll tell him to ring you straightaway ……If you see Gemma … Yes! Thanks! Goodbye." She placed the receiver on the phone and went to the kitchen and made herself a cup of tea.

Back at the wall, Neil and Tug had almost forgotten why they were there and were chatting about parables. "I think we're a bit like Jesus." said Tug.
"How d'you make that out?"
"We're seeking and hopefully going to save the lost. Like the shepherd who looked for his lost sheep 'til he found it and then had a party."
"I think you've got the wrong end of the stick there." chuckled Neil. "The point of the parable is that we're lost spiritually … we're not part of God's flock and he has to come looking for us otherwise we'd be lost for ever."
"I know that." replied Tug, "But don't you think …" The sound of a door slamming stopped him abruptly.
"Tug quickly got down on his stomach again and inched forward just like he'’d seen soldiers do on the TV. He took one look around the gate-post and quickly crept back to Neil. "There are two blokes. One of them is the guy who pushed us over. They're coming this way."
"What if they saw us coming across the field?"
"Get ready to run for it if we have to." The pair held their breath and strained their ears listening to the sound of footsteps. Their ears became their eyes as they used the sounds to construct a picture of what was happening on the other side of the wall. They were relieved when the footsteps stopped. At least the men weren't coming any closer. Then they heard a very different noise.
"Sounds like they're going into the barn." whispered Neil.
Tug nodded. Next thing they heard was the sound of car doors being closed, followed by the crunching the car tyres made as it drove past them the other side of the wall. They followed its progress by the noise it made and within a short while all was quiet again. The pair waited a little longer before speaking.
"Boy! What a quiet engine that Merc has." commented Tug.
"Never mind engines, let's get out of here."
Neil went to stand up but Tug put a hand on his shoulder, "No! Listen, I reckon they've left Gemma in there with the woman." said Tug, "D'you think we could rescue her?"
"Don't be stupid. If they'll grab someone off the street, I wouldn't put it past them to have a gun."
"Good point. Well I'm at least going to have a look in the barn."
They crawled along beside the wall until they were beside the barn. "I can't believe I'm letting you talk me into all this." grumbled Neil, "Who do you think you are ... James Bond?"
"Shut up. Now listen, if you see or hear the car coming back, thump the side of the barn three times with a stone." Tug scrambled up the wall, carefully edged his way to the end of the barn, then dropped out of sight on the other side of the wall. For the first time since they started their little escapade, Neil prayed.

Mr Gibbins-Smythe's phone rang. It was his secretary, "There's a man on the phone ... says he wants to speak to you. Won't give his name. Say'’s it's private business."
"That's okay, I'’ll speak to him."
After a few seconds he heard a muffled, gruff voice, "Gibbins-Smythe?"
"Yes!"
"Listen carefully. We've got your daughter Gemma. You can have her back for £100,000 in used bank notes. Don't involve the police or you won't see her again."
"But …"
"No buts, do you understand … £100,000. We'll speak again soon." The phone went dead.
A shocked Mr Gibbins-Smythe called his secretary. "Miss Milburn, get me my wife on the phone. Quick! It's urgent."
"Penny, is Gemma at home with you?"
"No! Why do you ask? She's not home from school yet."
"Darling, you'd better sit down." he said, then told her about the phone call. "I'm coming straight home, see you soon."

Neil felt sick. His stomach was doing somersaults. Tug had been in the barn for quite a while and Neil had no idea whether he was all right or not. He was snatched from his anxious thoughts by the sound of a car coming down the track and quickly gave Tug the agreed warning. Neil had not been as alert as he should have been and thought he'd left it a bit late. The car would be in the barn before Tug could get out. Neil heard the car doors slam and the barn door being closed. Muffled voices and footsteps faded away and then there was the distant sound of a door being shut. Neil guessed that the men were in the farmhouse, but what had happened to Tug. Neil stood by the wall watching intently and wishing Tug would return the way he'd gone, but there was nothing. Minutes ticked away as Neil wondered what he should do, then a gravelly voice behind him said, "Put your hands up and you won't get hurt." Neil's heart fell into his boots and his hands flew heavenwards like homesick angels.

Chapter 5 will be available next week.

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